Edet Ikotidem
Akwa United Football Club, once the pride of Uyo and champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in 2021, are now staring down the barrel of relegation in what has become a season marked by inconsistency, frustration, and missed opportunities.
The Promise Keepers, as they are fondly called, have found themselves locked in a worrying cycle of inconsistency—snatching a morale-boosting win one weekend, only to surrender meekly in the next game.
This “one step forward, two steps backward” trend has become their undoing, leaving supporters anxious and critics bewildered.
Their 1-0 loss to Plateau United has compounded their woes
Just a few seasons ago, Akwa United lifted the NPFL trophy in a historic campaign that announced them as a force to be reckoned with in Nigerian football.
They boasted a dynamic team, a confident coach, and the kind of momentum that champions are made of. But this season tells a far different story.
Their campaign has been riddled with tactical confusion, lack of depth, and what appears to be a loss of identity on the pitch. Goals have become hard to come by, and defensive errors have gifted points to opponents with alarming regularity.
Also read: Akwa United Drifting Toward Relegation After Painful Draw With El-Kanemi Warriors
Several opportunities to climb out of the danger zone have slipped through their fingers. In critical six-pointer fixtures against fellow relegation battlers, Akwa United have often failed to show the hunger and urgency required to stay in the top flight.
Their last match, which ended in defeat, was a perfect illustration of their season—bright in patches, but ultimately undone by individual errors and poor finishing. Fans are wondering what has become of a team that once
Head Coach Boboye has not been spared criticism, with many questioning his tactical decisions and inability to inspire a turnaround. Speaking after their latest defeat, he said:
“We understand the situation we are in. It is not what we hoped for, but we still have games to play. We must fight for every point now. The players know what is at stake.”
But with time running out and fixtures growing tougher, words must now translate into action.
With just a few games left in the season, Akwa United’s path to survival is narrow and steep. They must face top-performing teams as well as desperate sides fighting for their lives.
Every game is now a final, and the players must summon the character and resilience befitting a club of their stature.
The fans have remained loyal, turning out in numbers at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, urging their team on even in despair. But support alone won’t be enough—only results on the pitch can prevent what would be a heartbreaking relegation for a club that once danced with the giants.
Akwa United must decide now: will they go down fighting, or fade away in silence? Joining Dakkada FC in the NNL is not the best for the team as they remain without a club chairman.
The delay in appointing a new club chairman leaves Akwa United in old hands
